IdeaEconomy.Net

Individuals perform better than groups in quantity and quality of ideas. The larger the group, the more they are susceptible to group think.

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There is no question that the Internet has changed the way we work and connect with others. From a few people working on a shared Google document to thousands contributing to projects like Wikipedia or Linux, we are collaborating in unprecedented ways. When it works, collaboration is synergistic and amazing. The problem is that too often, real, meaningful collaboration is thwarted by an ugly thing called people.

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Malcolm Gladwell has a great article in The New Yorker on how underdogs can triumph against more skilled opponents. There are many great military and sports examples of how unconventional strategies and outworking your competition are the only ways to succeed.

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Use the Question Framework Exercise to discover new business models and better ways to create value for your customers.
Let’s face it, most businesses are pretty underwhelming. They offer similar goods at about the same price points, generally with lousy service. For every Apple, there are dozens of other companies competing on price. For every, Zappos, there are countless competitors basically doing the same as everyone else. Creativity and innovation are the only ways to stand out above the competition. That generally means radically reinventing your business model.

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The Uniform Project, started by Sheena Matheiken, is a great example of the four S’s of a great idea: Simple, Story, Surprising and Social Good. Matheiken wore the same dress for a year to raise over $100,000 for disadvantaged children.

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“The only way to stand out from the crowd is to stand for something special.” Look at your business from the perspective of different CEOs to gain insights and make creative breakthroughs. Focus on what is right with your business, not just what is wrong.

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“The pursuit of shibumi in business, work and life is guided by several key concepts, seven of which fit neatly under the heading of creativity.”

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I love the idea of co-working type environments where freelancers and smaller businesses can minimize some of the costs of having an office, yet still get the benefits of a shared work space. There is a buzz and energy when you work around other creative entrepreneurs that is near impossible to duplicate when in cafes or at home. These benefits can be amplified if you take time to find a company that you might work together with or for. ShareYourOffice is a fantastic idea that I hope is really successful.

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To foster creativity, everyone should draw, everyone should contribute and how people move within a physical space plays a crucial role in our creative work.

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While companies like Kickstarter and Kiva are proving that corporations can do good, I am still not convinced that ‘business’ is the best avenue for social change. Talking profits under the guise of making the world a better place still reeks of opportunism to me. It is not that companies shouldn’t strive to behave more ethically and try to create more good, it is just that profits cloud judgement.

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